February 9, 2026

President of the Council of Higher Education, Erol Özvar, visited Sivas to attend the 52nd Anniversary events of Sivas Cumhuriyet University and to hold a number of meetings.

Özvar received information from Rector Prof. Ahmet Şengönül regarding academic activities at the university and attended the 52nd Anniversary Celebration Program held at the 4 Eylül Cultural Center.

In his speech, Özvar stated that rather than every university attempting to conduct the same activities in every field, institutions should specialize according to their strengths, emphasizing that differentiation in higher education and focusing on competitive fields represent the fundamental approach of the new era.

Highlighting that artificial intelligence is transforming higher education from academic production to teaching processes, Özvar said:

“Artificial intelligence is no longer merely a projection about the future; it has begun to affect all dimensions of higher education, from academic output to teaching and learning processes. In the face of this transformation, our universities bear responsibility both for training qualified human resources and for establishing ethical and legal frameworks. As the Council of Higher Education, we consider the expansion of AI-based programs, strengthening interdisciplinary approaches, and equipping all our students with digital literacy as a strategic priority.”

Özvar noted that new programs have been opened in recent years and stated that guideline and regulatory work for ethical use is ongoing, adding, “Artificial intelligence is a tool. It is never the primary source of knowledge.”

Referring to the new regulation, Özvar noted that applied education has been reinforced and that practical training is now required to last at least one semester.

He also explained that the system is shifting from short-term internships to a workplace-based long-term training model, which will be gradually expanded starting with pilot provinces.

“We Have Decided to Open the Doors of Our Universities”

Addressing events in Gaza, Özvar stated that support is being provided to Palestinian students and academics, saying:

“Unfortunately, many students and academics who sought to draw peaceful attention to this humanitarian tragedy and who called for justice and conscience for Gaza have faced pressure, censorship, and legal sanctions in some Western countries, especially the United States. Türkiye has always regarded standing with the oppressed as a humanitarian and moral responsibility. With this understanding, and under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we decided and implemented a policy to open the doors of our universities to Palestinian students and academics, as well as to everyone facing pressure for taking a humanitarian stance regarding Gaza.”

“Visibility Is Not Merely About Rankings”

Drawing attention to the international visibility of universities, Özvar noted that increasing universities’ national and international visibility has become one of the priority topics of higher education policies within the framework of the vision recently established by the Council of Higher Education.

He used the phrase, “Visibility is certainly not merely a matter of appearing in rankings,” and continued, “Rather, it is directly linked to how widely a university’s knowledge production, the human resources it develops, and its social contributions are recognized. In this context, it is of great importance for our universities to focus primarily on increasing the quality and impact of their research outputs.”

As part of the celebration program, “Loyalty Awards” and “Academic Achievement Awards” were presented.

Following the program, Özvar also chaired the Senate Meeting of Sivas Cumhuriyet University.

Özvar Meets with Students at TÜGVA Specialization Academy

President Özvar attended the opening program of the Specialization Academy launched by the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), where he met with university students.

In his speech, Özvar stated that university education is not only a process that prepares individuals for a profession but should be understood as lifelong, multidimensional development extending beyond the campus.

He emphasized that programs such as TÜGVA Specialization Academy provide young people not only with academic knowledge but also with thinking skills, social responsibility, and value-based perspectives, adding that civil society organizations play a complementary role in higher education.

Addressing the contribution of civil society organizations to higher education, Özvar highlighted the importance of combining academically strong education with national and moral values, stating, “Knowledge is not merely a technical accumulation; it is also a matter of ethics and responsibility.”

After his speech, Özvar answered questions from students.

Two Critical Centers for Energy and Defense from Sivas Science and Technology University

Özvar later visited Sivas Science and Technology University, where he inaugurated the Energy Storage Research and Application Center and the Propulsion Research Center. He received information from Rector Prof. Mehmet Kul.

The Energy Storage Center — which will focus on battery technologies, electric vehicles, and renewable energy — and the Propulsion Research Center, where jet engines can be tested under high-altitude conditions, are expected to make significant contributions to national technology production. The university aims to become a regional R&D hub in energy and defense through new investments.

As part of the program, Özvar also held a meeting with the rectors of the Anatolian Universities Union and other regional universities and visited Sivas Governor Yılmaz Şimşek in his office.

Meanwhile, Sivas Cumhuriyet University presented Özvar with a kangal shepherd puppy as a gift.

During the visit, Özvar was accompanied by CoHE Deputy President Prof. Naci Gündoğan and Executive Board Members Prof. Hüseyin Karaman and Prof. Erol Arcaklıoğlu.